Linux answer to Aero: Xgl

Well it seems I was a little slow off the mark with spotting this but I stumbled across Xgl today. What is Xgl? (quote lifted from Wikipedia)

Xgl is an X server architecture, started by David Reveman, layered on top of OpenGL via glitz. It takes advantage of modern graphics cards via their OpenGL drivers, supporting hardware acceleration of all X, OpenGL and XVideo applications and graphical effects by a compositing window manager such as Compiz.

It certainly looks impressive, especially the rotating 3D desktop demo that Novell have showcased. Shame it doesn’t support multiple monitors though.

If I’m honest I did think to myself, after the novelty factor has worn off, how much will this improve productivity? Sure spinning the desktop on a 3D cube looks cool but I never used the multiple desktops that were available in Linux anyway, it was usually a case of “out of sight, out of mind”.

After a few days of using Windows XP’s Luna theme I found it bulky (and always reminds me of fisherprice) and switched back to Windows Classic, I’ve found most of people at work have too.

Check out Novell’s Xgl showcases.